Sore Throats

Subject: Medical and Surgical Nursing II (Theory)

Overview

A sore throat is a common symptom of many viral infections, including the flu, colds, measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, and croup. This category of infections includes diphtheria, meningitis, and strep throat. Penicillin and erythromycin can only be obtained from a doctor if you have an infected throat.

Sore Throats

You feel discomfort, itching, or irritation in your throat when you have a sore throat. Food and drink swallowing may be challenging for you, and the discomfort may get greater as you do so.

Causes

Viral Infection

Many viral infections, such as the flu, colds, measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, and croup, are accompanied by a sore throat.

Bacterial Infection:
A sore throat can also be caused by a bacterial infection. Infections of this type include:

  • Strep throat: Streptococcus pyogenic bacteria cause throat inflammation, which is known as strep throat.
  • Diphtheria: which results in throat inflammation
  • Whooping cough, which has an impact on the respiratory mucous membrane

Other Causes

  • allergies to mold and pollen
  • a stuffy nose that never goes away, dry heat, pollution, and chemical irritants
  • Stomach acid splashing up into the throat
  • tumors of the tongue, throat, and larynx having HIV

Sign and Symptoms

A persistent, severe painful throat, trouble swallowing, difficulty breathing, difficulty opening the mouth, joint pain, earache, rash, fever (above 101 degrees), lump in the neck, hoarseness lasting more than two weeks, and blood in the saliva or phlegm.

Diagnosis

Patients can be diagonized by taking their medical history, examining them physically and through throat swab for culture and sensitivity.

Treatment

  • Advice to the patient
    • more liquid intake
    • use of steamer or humidifier
    • salt water gargle several times a day
    • take acetaminophen or ibuprofen as adviced by a doctor
  • Use of antibiotic

Only a doctor can prescribe penicillin or erythromycin. When an antibiotic is prescribed, it should be taken for the entire course, usually 3,5,7 or 10 days. Otherwise, the infection might not be completely eradicated and may reappear.

Reference

MedicineNet. 1996. 2017 http://www.medicinenet.com/sore_throat_pharyngitis/article.htm

Dhingra PL. Diseases of ear, nose, and throat. $th ed: Reed Elsevier India (P) Limited:2007

HealthLine. 2005. 2017 http://www.healthline.com/health/sore-throat

Shrivastav R, Rakesh P. An illustrated Textbook of ear, nose, throat and head and neck surgery. 1st ed. Lalitpur Nepal: UPS publisher; 2008

Medline Plus. 05 January 2017 https://medlineplus.gov/sorethroat.html

Web MD. 2005. 2017 http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/sore-throat-cold-strep-throat-tonsillitis
Things to remember
  • A sore throat is characterized by discomfort, itching, or irritation in the throat.
  • Food and drink swallowing may be difficult for you, and if you attempt, the discomfort may get worse.
  • Throat discomfort is the main sign of a sore throat. Dry throat, enlarged neck glands, and white spots on the tonsils are some more signs that you could experience.
  • Most sore throats are caused by viral infections.
  • These infections are viral, like the flu or the common cold.
  • A bacterial infection might also result in a painful throat. These illnesses include diphtheria, which also results in throat irritation, and strep throat, which is brought on by the Streptococcus pyogenic bacterium.
  • Not all sore throats are brought on by germs or viruses. Postnasal drip may occur if you are exposed to allergens such as mold, pet dander, pollen, or other irritants if you have an allergy to them. At this point, mucus at the back of your throat starts to accumulate. You may have pain or irritation in your throat as a result of this accumulation.
Questions and Answers

A sore throat refers to pain, itchiness, or irritation of the throat. You may have difficulty swallowing food and liquids, and the pain may get worse when you try to swallow. Throat pain is the primary symptom of a sore throat. However, other symptoms may include:

  • A dry throat
  • Swollen glands in the neck
  • White patches on the tonsils
  • Hoarseness

Viral Infection: The majority of sore throats are triggered by a viral infection. These are infections caused by a virus, such as the cold or flu.

Other types of viral infections include:

  • mononucleosis, which is an infectious disease typically transmitted through saliva
  • measles, which is a contagious illness characterized by a distinct rash and fever
  • chickenpox, which is an infection that causes skin sores
  • croup, which is an infection of the larynx

Bacterial Infection: A bacterial infection can also cause a sore throat. These types of infections include:

  • strep throat, which is an inflammation of the throat caused by the Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria
  • diphtheria, which causes throat inflammation
  • whooping cough, which affects the respiratory mucous membrane

Environmental Factors: Not all sore throats are viral or bacterial. There are several other causes of throat pain:

  • If you’re allergic to mold, pet dander, pollen, or other irritants, exposure to these allergens can trigger postnasal drip. This is when excess mucus accumulates in the back of your throat. This accumulation can irritate your throat and cause pain or inflammation.
  • Dry air can also make your throat feel raw and scratchy.
  • Smoking cigarettes or exposure to cigarette smoke can trigger persistent sore throats.
  • Yelling or too much talking can trigger throat strain.

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